Just recently replaced my drive shaft u joint, is my first time replacing a u joint,then so, is the new joint suppost to be hard to turn when installed? The old one I could easily move the joint back and forth...

kfdjason7620

12-01-2012 01:17 PM

Nope, you might have had a needle bearing fall down when putting it together

Jerry Bransford

12-01-2012 01:19 PM

No, it should be as easy if not easier than before and no it will not loosen with use... at least not in a good way. It sounds to me like the bearing caps are simply binding against the bearing body, like they were seated too far inward aginst the u-joint trunion (body).

Remove the driveshaft and get your BFH (big effing hammer) out. Like a small one-handed sledge hammer. A normal hammer is not heavy enough for this job. Hold the driveshaft in one hand and use the BFH to smack the yoke holding the u-joint HARD so the enertia of the u-joint body can force the bearing cap outward back towards its clip. Flip the yoke around & do the same thing so the opposite bearing cap can be forced back out against its clip.

In other words... smacking the yoke with the BFH will cause the u-joint body to push the bearing cap nearest you towards you and outward toward its clip. Flip the yoke 180 and do it again. You are smacking the yoke right over where its bearing cap is. The hammer won't be able to actually touch or harm the bearing cap itself, the yoke will protect it. This should free it right up.